Manifold



March 27, 1934. A, POWERS 1,952,682

MAN IFOLD Filed Oct. 19, 1931 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 27, 134

MANEFOLD' tion of Michigan Application October 19, 1931, Serial No. 569,768

13 Ciaims.

This invention relates to a manifold adapted more particularly for use in a furnace or the like of the type which burns fluid fuel.

One of the primary objects of this invention is 5 to provide a manifold of the above mentioned character which may be readily installed in combustion chambers of various shapes and sizes.

A further object of this invention is to provide 7 a manifold which 'will provide a passage of con- 10 stant cross sectional area for the flow of the fluid fuel.

Still further the invention contemplates the provision of a manifold which will be simple in construction and which will be formed of a plurality of like segments which may be economically manufactured on a commercial scale.

Numerous other objects and advantages of this invention will become more apparent as the following description proceeds, particularly when reference is had to the accompanying drawing,

wherein: I

Fig. 1 is a semi-diagrammatic fragmentary sectional view through a furnace showing a manifold constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention associated with the same;

Fig. 2 is a semi-diagrammatic plan view of a hearth showing a manifold associated with the same;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the manifold;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view through the manifold shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevational View showing one end of the manifold; and

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing a slightly modified form of construction.

Referring then particularly to the drawing wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout all views, the invention is shown as being incorporated in a furnace of the type adapted for the burning of either liquid or gaseous fuel. Such a furnace is disclosed more particularly in my copending ap plication, Serial No. 502,598, filed December 15,

1930, which has resulted in Patent No. 1,885,478

issued November 1, 1932, and comprises a combustion chamber 10 which is defined by a suitable wall 11. Located within the combustion chamber is a hearth 12, and positioned substantially centrally of this hearth is a rotary oil nozzle or distributor l3 operated by a suitable motor 14. The hearth is provided adjacent its periphery with a refractory ring 15 having a groove 16 into which is directed the spray of oiland current of air from the rotary member 13. Oil may be supplied to the rotary member by a suitable pipe 17, the mixture of oil and air being discharged from the rotary member into the groove 16 where it burns with a radiant flame. H

For the purpose of burning a gaseous fuel within the furnace there is provided a manifold 20 which is imbedded in the hearth 12 adjacent the refractory ring 15. The present invention is directed more particularly to the structure of this manifold, and it will be apparent as the following description proceeds that a manifold constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention may be installed either in a furnace of the type above described or in a furnace of any other type whatever. The invention is therefore to be construed as relating to a manifold construction regardless of the type of furnace or the like in which the manifold is mounted.

As illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawing, the manifold 20 is substantially the size and shape of the hearth 12. In actual constructions, it will be found that circular hearths such as illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawing may vary from eighteen inches to thirty-five inches in diameter, while square hearths vary in size from 15 x 17 inches to 48 x 52 inches. Because of these variations in the size of the hearths, difficulty has heretofore been experienced in installing manifolds in hearths since the manifolds must vary in size and shape as the hearths vary. One method of installation heretofore used consisted in first cutting short lengths of pipe. These lengths of pipe were then connected together to approximately the size and shape of the manifold desired, and then this manifold was drilled and tapped to provide for the installation of the necessary jet pipes. In this method, however, difiiculty is encountered in locating the jets symmetrically and in making all of the joints between the pipe lengths tight.

A better method consisted in first measuring the hearth, designing a manifold to fit the hearth and then welding the manifold together to the proper shape. After the forming of the manifold the jets were installed. In this method, however, the manifold had to be built in at least two sections with union connections in order to provide for inserting of the manifold into the combustion chamber. Even though this latter meth- 06. has been used to some extent, it is in fact impractical and entirely too complicated for general field use. The present invention contemplates the elimination of the above mentioned difficulties by forming a manifold of a plurality of like segments or sections, which sections may be secured ,the opening 28 formed in this segment.

together to form a manifold of the size and shape desired.

Referring to Fig. 2 of the drawing, it will be noted that the manifold is substantially circular in shape. According to the teachings of this invention this manifold is formed of a connected series of arc-shaped segments, each segment being designated by the reference character 25. The segments are alike in size and shape, and each segment comprises a casting of the desired width and depth. Each casting is hollow to provide a gas passage 26, and each segment is provided with ports 27 and 28 which communicate with this passage. It will be noted that the port 27 is formed in the bottom of the segment, while the port 28 is formed in the top thereof and that these ports are formed adjacent the opposite ends of the segment so that when one end of one segment is superposed on the adjacent end of a second segment, the port 27 of the one segment will register with the port 28 of the other segment.

The passages 26 within the segments are of substantially constant cross sectional area, and each segment is provided with an offset portion 29 intermediate its ends so that one end of each segment lies in a plane above the other end there- Thus when the segments are connected together, the body portions thereof lie substantially in the same plane, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawing.

For securing the segments to each other, each segment may be provided on its inner periphery with a boss 30, this boss being in alignment with A stud 31 is threaded in this boss and projects upwardly through the opening 28 in its respective segment through the opening 2'7 in a second segment and then through a bore 32 in the second segment, the

. stud projecting beyond this bore and being threaded as designated by the reference character 33. A nut 34 threaded on the portion 33 of the stud is arranged to engage the upper face of the second segment to clamp the same firmly against the first segment. 45

Surrounding each port 27 is an annular outwardly directed flange 35. This flange is of a size sufiiciently small to fit within the port 28 of the next adjacent section or segment in the .manner clearly illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawing with the result that when the segments are secured together a fluid-tight joint may be formed between the sections. To further aid in preventing the escape of the fluid fuel at this point, a gasket 36 may be interposed between the two sections, this gasket surrounding the annular flange 35.

Each segment is provided with a plurality of jet pipes 40, there being preferably three of these jet pipes tapped into the upper face of each seg- 'ment and communicating with the interior there of. Each jet pipe is provided adjacent its upper end with a discharge orifice (not shown) arranged to direct the jet of gas adjacent the groove 16 in the refractory ring 15, as will be readily apparent. Gas is supplied to the manifold by a pipe 41 which is tapped into the bottom of one of the segments such, for example, as designated by the reference character 25 In use, it will be apparent that the desired number of segments. 25 may be secured together to form a manifold of the size desired. When these segments are initially connected to each other, the nuts 34 may be only loosely threaded on the studs 31 with the result that the segments 'will be loosely or flexibly connected to each other.

Thus the manifold may be formed to the shape desired after which the nuts may be tightened to rigidly fix the sections of the manifold to each other and to thus make the manifold rigid throughout its entire length. If the segments are connected together to form a continuous ring without any ends, it will be apparent that gas supplied to one of the segments will flow through the passage formed by the series of passages 26 and will be evenly supplied to the jet pipes 35 for discharge from the orifices of these pipes. Thus the manifold may be readily formed to the size and shape desired and when so formed may be mounted in the hearth in the desired position.

It frequently is desirable, because of the shape or diameter of the hearth, to form ends on the manifold rather than to form the manifold as a continuous ring. A manifold of this character is shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing, and the end secions 25 thereof are formed in the manner illustrated in 5 of the drawing. By reference to this latter figure it will be noted that the end sections 25', while similar to the sections 25, differ from these sections in that their ends d3 are closed and in that they are not provided with ports 28.

If the manifold is formed in the manner illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawing, that is, with closed ends rather than the form of a continuous ring, it is preferable that the gas supply line to the manifold be located approximately half way between the ends of the manifold. When the gas supply pipe is thus located, the gas is caused to divide at the point of entry and to flow in both directions to the several discharge jets of the manifold. This eliminates the necessity of the gas flowing entirely through the manifold to reach any of the jets and insures a full supply of gas to all of the jets.

It is to be understood that the segments 25 may be either arc-shaped, as illustrated, or may be any other shape. Thus, if the manifold is to be incorporated into a rectangular or similar shaped hearth, sections 25 such as illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawing, may be provided, it being noted that these sections are straight rather than curved, as are the sections 25. Further, it will be apparent that the manifold may be made up of either all straight sections or of both straight and curved sections, dependent entirely upon the conditions encountered at the time of installation.

From the above it will be apparent that the invention provides a manifold formed of a plurality of like segments rigidly fixed together to provide a continuous fluid passage. These segments, because of the fact that they are identical, may be readily manufactured on a commercial scale. Further, with a reasonable supply of sections or segments on hand, a manifold of any desired size and shape may be formed so that the manifold may be formed at the point of installation to fit the hearth in which it is to be incorporated. The segments are provided with means whereby they may be tightly clamped together so as to provide fluid-tight connections between the several segments of the manifold.

While the invention has been described with some detail, it is to be understood that the description is for the purposes of illustration only i What I claim as my invention is:

1. A manifold adapted to be fitted into a furnace combustion chamber, comprising a series of like hollow sections, and means for securing said sections fixed together with the interiors thereof in coimnunication with each other to provide a continuous fluid passage, said means providing for the adjustable angular positioning of said sections with respect to each other, the like char-- acter of said sections and the adjustability of the angular relation of said sections with respect to each other providing for the fitting of said manifold into the combustion chamber irrespective of the size and shape of the combustion chamber.

2. In a manifold construction adapted to be fitted into a combustion chamber, a series of like hollow sections, each section being provided with a pair of ports communicating with the interior thereof, and means for securing said sections to gether with each port in each section in registration with one port in the next adjacent section, said means providing for the adjustable angular positioning of said sections with respect to each other, the like character of said sections and the adjustability of the angular relation of said sections with respect to each other providing for the fitting of said manifold into the combustion chamber irrespective of the size and shape of the coinbustion chamber.

3. In a manifold construction adapted to be fitted into a combustion chamber, a series of like sections, each section being provided interiorly with a fluid passage and each section being f ther provided with a pair of ports communicating with the said passage, said ports being arranged in opposite sides of the section, and means for securing said sections together with their adjacent ends in overlapping relation with respect to each other and with each port in each section in registration with the oppositely arranged port in the next adjacent section'whereby the passages within said sections are placed in communication with each other, said means providing for the adjustable angular positioning of said sections with respect to each other, the like character of said sections the interior thereof, the port at one end of said section being arranged in the upper face thereof and the port in the other end of the section being arranged in the lower face thereof, and means for securing said sections together with their adjacent ends in superposed relation with respect to each other and with the port in the under face of each section in registration with the port in the upper face of the next adjacent section, said means providing for the adjustable angular positioning of said sections with respect to each other, the like character of said sections and the adjustability of the angular relation of said sections with respect to each other providing for the fitting of said manifold into the combustion chamber irrespective of the size and shape of the combustion chamber.

5. In a manifold construction adapted to be fitted into a combustion chamber, a series of like hollow sections, and means for securing said sections together with the interiors thereof in communication with each other, said means being adjustable to provide for angular adjustment of said sections relative to each other during assembly and to provide for locking said sections against angular adjustment to impart rigidity to the manifold, the like'character of said sections and the adjustability of the angular relation of said sections with respect to each other providing for the fitting of said manifold into the combustion chamber irrespective of the size and shape of the combustion chamber.

6. In a manifold construction adapted to be fi ted into a combustion chamber, a series of like hollow sections and connections between said sections, 5 id connections being capable of being loosened and tightened whereby when said connections are loosened the said sections maybe angularly adjuste. relative to each other to vary the shape of the manifold and when said connections are tightened the said sections are rigidly secured together to provide a manifold rigid throughout its length, the like character of said sections and the adjustability of the angular relation of said sections with respect to each other providing for the fitting of said manifold into the combustion chamber irres ective of the size and shape of the combustion chamber.

7. In a manifold adapted to be fitted into a combustion chamber, a plurality of like manifold sections, each being provided with a fluid passage and each being provided with a predetermined number of discharge jets, and a plurality of like connecting members for said sections providing for the connection of any number of said sections in series and in adjusted angular relation with respect to each other to form a manifold of any desired size and shape.

8. In a manifold construction adapted to be fitted into a combustion chamber, a series of like hollow sections, each section being offset intermediate its ends whereby one end of each section is elevated with respect to the other end thereof, each section being provided with a port adjacent each end, said ports communicating with the interior of the section and the port in the elevated end of the section being arranged in the under face thereof and the port in the other end of the section being arranged in the upper face thereof, and means for securing a series of said sections to each other with the elevated end of each section superposed on t -e lower end of the next adjacent section and with the port in the elevated end of each section in registration with the port in the lower end of the next adjacent section whereby the interiors of all of said sections are placed in communication with each other, said means providing for the adjustable angular positioning of said sections with respect to each other, the like character of said sections and. the adjustability of the angular relation of said sections with respect to each other providing for the fitting of said manifold into the combustion chamber irrespective of the size and shape of the combustion chamber.

9. In a manifold construction adapted to be fitted into a combustion chamber, a series of like hollow sections, each of said sections being provided with ports communicating with the interior thereof, and means for securing said sections together with each port in each section in registration with one of the ports in an adjacent section, said means providing for an adjustable angular positioning of said sections with respect to each other and comprising a stud anchored in each section and projecting through an adjacent sec- 159 tion, and means cooperating with said stud for clamping said sections together, the like character of said sections and the adjustability of the angular relation of said sections with respect to each other providing for the fitting of said manifold into the combustion chamber irrespective of the size and shape of the combustion chamber.

10. A circular manifold adapted to be fitted into a combustion chamber, comprising a plurality of lik arc-shaped hollow sections and means for securing said sections to each other with the interiors thereof in communication with each other, said means providing for the adjustable angular positioning of said sections with respect to each other, the like character of said sections and the adjustability of the angular relation of said sections with respect to each other providing for the fitting of said manifold into the combustion chamber irrespective of the size and shape of the combustion chamber.

11. A circular manifold construction adapted to be fitted into a combustion chamber, comprising a plurality of like hollow sections and means for securing said sections to each other with the interiors thereof in communication with one another, and an end section secured to one of said sections, said last mentioned section being closed at its one end, the like character of said sections and the adjustability of the angular rela tion of said sections with respect to each other providing for the fitting or" said manifold into the combustion chamber irrespective of the size and shape of the combustion chamber.

12. A manifold construction adapted to be tted into a combustion chamber, comprising a series of like rectilinearly shaped hollow sections secured together in adjusted angular relation with respect to each other, with the interiors thereof in communication with each other, the like character of said sections and the adjustability of the angular relation of said sections With respect to each other providing for the fitting of said manifold into the combustion chamber irrespective of the size and shape of the combustion chamber.

13. As a new article of manufacture, a tubular manifold section, burner nozzles carried by said section, and means carried by said section for securing the same to the adjacent end of a like section arranged in series therewith, the arrangement being such that a plurality of said sections may be secured together in adjusted angular relation with respect to each other to form a manifold of any desired size and shape.

MILTON A. POWERS. 

